The flow of new ads has declined in the waning days of this campaign, but we saw some candidates release defensive, counter-ads after enduring brutal attacks. We also saw a strong closing biographical ad.
Here is what cut through the clutter today:
Missouri Senate
Rep. Todd Akin (R) single-handedly spawned a new trend this year: Democratic ads featuring victims of sexual assault criticizing a Republican candidate.
He has been on the receiving end of such ads, and in a new spot his campaign released today, he used the same tactic in defense.
This new spot features a testimonial from a woman who says she has been a victim of sexual assault and has had an abortion. It was not clear whether this ad had any money behind it. Akin has struggled to raise money and this is a one-minute spot; it is not clear if this ad will air on television. The campaign did not respond to requests for that information.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doY2YSU8FBY
Rhode Island 1
Republicans have been merciless to Rep. David Cicilline (D) this cycle. GOP nominee Brendan Doherty and the National Republican Congressional Committee have aired ads referencing his time as a defense attorney and his unsavory clients. The Cicilline campaign has moved swiftly to retaliate each time — usually with a response ad up within a day of the GOP attack.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDVG15sdt3M&feature=youtu.be
New Mexico Senate
Former Rep. Heather Wilson (R) may increasingly be the underdog against Rep. Martin Heinrich (D), but she is closing out the race with a strong positive ad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ5bcNCOL-w
Niels Lesniewski contributed to this report.